Recipe: Plum, Ginger & Walnut Tarts

Christmas Instore - Individual plum, ginger and walnut tarts Individual spiced winter tarts with juicy plums and ground walnuts.

These tarts can be served warm or cold, and make a fantastic alternative to Christmas pudding.

*Allergens highlighted in bold

Pastry:

• 320g pack ready rolled shortcrust pastry
• 120 g unsalted butter, softened
• 130 g golden caster sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 150 g ground walnuts (you can grind your own in a food processor)
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 6 ripe plums, de-stoned and sliced
• 2 tbsp apricot jam, warmed
• 3 walnuts, roughly chopped

Filling:

• 175g breadcrumbs, from a day-old white loaf
• 700g golden syrup
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 tbsps lemon juice
• 2 medium eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 tbsps double cream

Custard:

• 200ml double cream
• 200ml whole milk
• 4 egg yolks
• 2 tsps cornflour
• 3 tbsps caster sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to CircoTherm® Intensive 190°C and place the universal pan in the oven on level 1 to heat up.

Unroll the pastry and put 6 x 10 cm diameter loose-bottomed tart tins to one side. Cut the pastry into six squares - they should be bigger than the tart cases.

Use the pastry to line the cases and push the pastry right into the grooves of the cases. Cut off excess pastry, but leave a bit of an overhang, as they will shrink back slightly during baking. Put to one side.

Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat it together with a wooden spoon for a couple of minutes – until fluffy. Stir in the eggs until mixed, then stir in the ground walnuts, flour, ginger, cinnamon, almond extract and vanilla extract.

Divide the mixture between the tart cases and smooth out with the back of a spoon.

Arrange slices of plum on the top of each tart in a circular pattern.

Place the tarts in the oven, directly on the hot universal pan and bake for 18-20 minutes, until golden.

Remove from the oven and whilst the tarts are still hot, spread over the warm apricot jam.

Sprinkle on the chopped walnuts and serve either warm or cold, topped with cream or ice cream.